Now this is mind blowing (from Joe Rogan) | “Kids Wish Network - Aid to the actual kids is ONLY 2.5% | Cancer Fund of America - LESS THAN 1% went to funding cancer research

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[E. Pluribus Unum]

Now this is mind blowing

Joe Rogan “Kids Wish Network:

- They raised $127 million
- They paid to solicitors $109 million
- They spent percentage on direct cash
- Aid to the actual kids is ONLY 2.5%

- Look at the Cancer Fund of America. LESS THAN 1% went to the actual thing”

[cornfedcowboy]

In some regards scams like this are perfectly legal. It sucks, but not against the law in many cases.

[rktman]

According to “ads”, T2T uses like 95% to do good. Anyone? Bueller?

[EnderWiggin1970]

This is the exception, not the rule. There are a lot of great grassroots charities out there working on a shoestring that do deserve support, and not excuses to be ungenerous. In general I recommend finding small operations that have little overhead that are working on a tight budget.

I also believe the more recent the the organization the more likely it is to be efficient and honest in its operations. Over time the trappings of bureaucracy, and rationalizations of expenses on comfort and convenience of the staff, build up. But honest charities tend to be established by someone with a passionate goal to address some problem, and they pour every penny (including what they can afford of their own earnings/savings in most cases) into it.

But this requires people to DYOR and not just throw money at whomever is advertising heavily - the heavy advertising is itself a warning sign. The best organizations "advertise" by word of mouth of anyone who finds out about them, volunteers with them, and knows they are worthy. But that means people need to be getting involved with volunteering and not just waiting for a charity to knock at their door. So get involved.

[freepersup]

Charity Navigator did not have the Cancer Fund of America in their database.

https://www.charitynavigator.org/discover-charities/best-charities/highly-rated-charities/

[Texas Eagle]

Wouldn’t surprise me to learn that United Way, American Red Cross and other such organizations have similar numbers.

[traderrob6]

I stick with 3.....St. Jude, T2T, and Boys Town. So many out there are only for one thing, self perpetuation.

[metmom]

Just like most of these organizations. Scams tugging on people’s heart strings.

[econjack]

This is why any solicitation I get, mail, phone, whatever...I always ask them for an audited financial statement of last years balance sheet and income statement. Not ONE charity/group has EVER sent me what I requested. Indeed, it seems to be an effective way to get off the list.

[metmom]

We do Samaritan’s Purse, Convoy of Hope, (affiliated with the AoG and funded by the denomination so they say that 100% of what you give goes to the project), and Teen Challenge.

[metmom]

But if we ever found out about irregularities in any of them that would be over so fast they wouldn’t know what hit them.

[EnderWiggin1970]

Charity Navigator gives it a 47% score

Note that most of the points are for absolutely basic stuff like uploading their list of directors. At best they have lazy staff, quite apart from the lousy financial numbers (I did the info uploads for exactly this activity for a charity I worked at a few years ago; it takes a few days of work to pull together, but shows you are serious.)

[SaveFerris]

I believe at least one of the “main” animal organizations is like this

If I had HAD any money, there was the $19 a month Danny Thomas Foundation for St. Jude’s WITH a free t-shirt (Marlo Thomas speaking, too)

BUT right around the same time, another commercial break (I was watching TV in a hotel) came.... (I was maybe watching Fox or a movie channel)

$19 a month, free t-shirt for the “animal” foundation...

THEN came a commercial for .... $19 a month, free t-shirt for PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND ABORTION “RIGHTS”...

That was the capper right there......

Now St. Jude’s would probably be the only one I’d give to if I had some spare money

[Mount Athos]

There’s no guesswork, you find out how efficient any charity is by looking at public docs and stats posted on charity navigator

[rdcbn1]

If true, this is criminal.

I seem to recall that by law, 5% of the funds raised by charitable non profits must be used for the intended purpose of the non profit.

Not a high bar, but these don't even meet that standard.

The reality is that a large number of non profits and charities are borderline legalized fraud machines that are used to support the lavish lifestyles of the officers. Lots of expensive "fundraising" parties and executive lunches paid for by donations right off the top..

[SaveFerris]

Grouped like those commercials were, it made me wonder if Marlo Thomas is pro-abortion

I’ve never looked....hmmm...let’s see....

[rdcbn1]

United Way is the most corrupt scamming org around.

[Texas Eagle]

American Red Cross considers them fightin’ words.

[SaveFerris]

Found this on Wiki right off

On November 20, 2014, the Marlo Thomas Center for Global Education and Collaboration was opened as part of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.[25] Hillary Clinton presided over the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

On November 24, 2014, President Barack Obama awarded Thomas the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, at a White House ceremony.[2]

[SaveFerris]

I refused to donate to United Way once I found out that they were gaying up the Boy Scouts

[Jeff Vader]

I only give to “the human fund”, their mission statement is “money for people”